CCSN’s Questions to Parties and Candidates

In 2013, over 48,700 Quebecers were diagnosed with cancer and approximately 20,000 died of it. Clearly, this life-threatening illness affects families, friends, the workplace and entire communities.

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for survivors in Canada.

The government of Quebec has a critical role to play in making sure that everyone diagnosed with cancer has timely access to the medications they need; is not subjected to dangerously long wait times for diagnosis and treatment; and receives adequate financial support during diagnosis and treatment.

We invite you to respond to the following two questions about cancer care and healthcare in Quebec. Your responses will be circulated to cancer patients and survivors in Quebec and included on our website at www.survivornet.ca. Links to your responses will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Healthcare Services

Is your party in favour of a patient-based funding model of healthcare services rather than an institution-based model of funding, and if so, why?

Drug Approval

HealthEdition.com stated that in 2011, Quebec was eighth among the 10 provinces in covering new cancer therapies.

If elected, will your government commit to increasing the number of new cancer and other drugs approved for public reimbursement so that all Quebecers have timely access to the drugs they need, and if so, how will this be accomplished?